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Returning to work after IVF

Hi ladies, i'm having ET tomorrow and just wanted to know what everyone's thoughts were on returning to work.

I work freelance so am in no real rush to get back but the phone is ringing and I have lots of new work coming in. I don't want to turn it all down but at the same time I don't want to return back too soon.

Had EC yesterday and am feeling fine apart from slight tightness and twinges. I have had no bleeding or pain and no need to take painkillers. *touches wood*
Any advice?

I had most pain from my ec and was fine after et! I would have gone back to work the day after (if only to keep my mind busy) but cudnt as i had it done on Good Friday, so the day after was the weekend!

I think mentally, it is easier to cope with if u are at work and once the embies have been put back, there is very little u can do to change the outcome, it is purely down to nature!

The way I look at it, you should do what u feel is best for you personally, as everyone is different!

I was in too much pain to do much of anything for about four days after EC. I found it difficult to walk too much so I relaxed as much as I could. I had my EC last Tuesday, ET on Friday and went back to work Monday which was fine.

Everyone is different, but it might be worth taking it just a bit easier so you don't over exert yourself!

I was very bloated following EC and felt discomfort after ET (had a lot of follicles removed) but I just had the weekend off after the Friday ET. I went back to work on the MOnday and it did help keep my mind occupied but as you can see from my ticker, things went alright.

I was just SO BORED I really wanted to go straight back to work but allowed 2 complete days after ET then just did mornings for the week, so could rest up. As has been said, didnt wanna have any regrets.

Have a PT job and freelance too so know what you mean, is typical the work floods in when you daren't risk it, but is worth the wait.

I think I'm with GemmaB on this one, I am having ET later today but am planning on taking the 2WW off as I don't want to look back and say 'if only I'd chilled more'. However, I do think it all depends on you and your job. My job is quite stressful, I manage 35 people and drive a min of 200 miles a day, I also sometimes get called at night too so for me its a must to be off but if you have an easier worklife balance and want to take your mind off things I'd say leave it a min of 3 days after ET and you should be fine. I say 3 days as my acupunturist who is worth his weight in gold, has told me to rest as much as poss for 3 days following ET to keep the womb at at constant temperature with minimal trauma for the embryo's to snuggle in nice and firm!!

Thanks for all the advice. I did go for a wonder around town the day of ET and felt i shouldn't of but am feeling fine in myself. I did however keep a slow pace and my heart rate didn't go up. Totally resting today and tomorrow. The doc did say to rest up but not sedatory. I could do things but not to the extreme.
Problem is i have a new job to possibly start next week which is quite physical and on the go so am going to have to explain that i can only do a few hours next week.

Tracey, good luck with your ET today. What time will it be?
Kim good luck to you for Monday.

Hi Moogie,
I haven't taken any time off. My EC was on a saturday and I couldn't have worked sunday anyway because of pain, did go to work on Monday but shouldn't have and did a short day (because of pain). ET was tuesday, went to work, went to ET, came back to work. My job isn't stressful, I might as well sit on my bum all day whilst not using up my holiday. It would be nice to have time off, but I don't want to use up my hols. If this attempt doesn't work, I want to do the next one ASAP, so that comes into it aswell, as I am trying my hardest not to revolve my life around tx (bl**dy hard that is, it's in my thoughts 24/7). I was also told I can live my normal life (except saunas and hot baths which I don't do anyway), as long as it doesn't hurt.

Hi Claire
No i've no pain what so ever even after EC. They never mentioned saunas or hot baths which is strange. They did say no horse riding or skiing or any thing extreme so i took it to mean just carry on as normal.
I am going to take it easy cos if it doesn't work i don't want to say if only....

Hi Moogie,
You're so lucky not to have had any pain. Maybe it's partly down to the skill of the person doing the procedure! It was an unpleasant surprise for me. They showed me on the ultrasound this spare fluid that had sunk down and must have been squishing everything else. I'm pretty much back to normal today but I'm going to at least avoid aerobics, as you never know. (Haven't been for weeks!).
Good luck with the new job next week, and take it easy.

Hi. With my last ICSI treatment I took four weeks off as I wasn't gonna even dare to risk anything. I was really cautious the whole time, barely moving about or anything ! This time I think I will also do the same as the ICSI worked last time and I was glad I took it so easy. I was 4 weeks pregnant when I went back work which is still early days in the great scheme of things and I would have much preferred to stay off until 12 weeks and just relax and enjoy the feeling of early pregnancy, rather than with morning sickness and pressure and work and my other child.

I think it's nicer to treat yourself with kid gloves than make ureself feel like you should be doing what other pregnant women do... especially if they haven't been through fertility treatment. Your pregnancy is different and your body is different. Play it by ear.

oh and congratulations - "here's to morning sickness"...!!!

Proud mum to two sons - natural unexpected in 1999 and ICSI in 2004

We must let go of the life we had planned;
to have the life waiting for us

Hi, am a newbie and am having first cycle of IVF soon but was wondering about the whole time off work thing. I work with autistic kids and they can be a bit aggressive at times so was thinking it would be best to take the time off. Do you think I could get signed off work? Can't take any holiday as have to have that during school holidays. But work would be fine if I got signed off.

Hi. I got signed off work for four weeks - 1 week by the hospital and the rest by my GP. I'm just a secretary and it's not physically demanding but it is stressful. Gp's are more accommodating to fertility patients, I find.

Good luck with treatment.

Proud mum to two sons - natural unexpected in 1999 and ICSI in 2004

We must let go of the life we had planned;
to have the life waiting for us

Yeah... when I left the hospital they gave me one automaticlaly for a week, but after a week I still didn't feel ready - emotionally - to return to work so visited a female GP and she gave me the further time off. I think I was maybe lucky with her but I think it should be our right. After all we work so hard to get where we are we need some down time and time to deal with the outcome. Plus I didn't want to be sitting in my office dreading every time I stood up, walked anywhere or reached high for a file !! I know people say that if it's in it stays but I was determined to do that little bit extra in terms of resting and praying

Proud mum to two sons - natural unexpected in 1999 and ICSI in 2004

We must let go of the life we had planned;
to have the life waiting for us

This post has been edited 1 times, last edit by "Soooz" (Apr 8th 2008, 11:16am)

Quite pleased work has not replied with a start date so still relaxing. I'm only just starting to get back into the housework thing!!! Dh wanted me to crack on with the decorating of the kitchen and said 'other women are busy working etc when they're pregnant'. I quickly put him in his place by saying that most women haven't been trying for 4 years and just had IVF!! Yeh, reply to that!! lol

Sparkles, i used to work with kids with learning and behavoural problems. It is VERY stressful so i'd recommend you take as much time as is possible.